Alternate Animal Affection: Difference between revisions

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[[File:simbanala_6214.jpg|link=The Lion King|right]]
 
There's a problem that arises in stories featuring reasonably anthropomorphic animals, both of the plain old [[Talking Animal|talking]] and [[Funny Animal|funny]] varieties. Many writers want to include romantic plots or subplots in these works. For human characters, [[True Love's Kiss|a kiss]] often serves as [[Sealed with a Kiss|the closure]] to a [[Will They or Won't They?]] arc.
 
The problem arises from the fact that, unless you're writing [[Everything's Better with Monkeys|monkeys and apes]] (or fish, we suppose, but there are usually [[No Cartoon Fish]]) most animals just ''don't have the facial structure required'' for a human-type, lip-to-lip kiss. So having animals "kiss" like humans isn't necessarily plausible. So what do writers do?
 
Well, usually one of two things:
 
* '''Ignore it.''' Anatomy? What anatomy? For the purposes of the work, a duck's bill can become just as pliant and squishy as human lips so that [[Donald Duck|Donald and Daisy]] can have their smooch. [[Funny Animal|Funny Animals]], or just those in less-realistic works, tend to get saddled with this option.
* '''Come up with an alternate gesture with the same meaning.''' After all, real-world animals ''do'' have ways to express affection, so why not? Common choices for this one include: Licking (like [[All Animals Are Dogs|dogs]]), rubbing noses/snouts, [[Headbutt of Love|bumping foreheads]], or crossing necks (which can also substitute for a hug). Works with [[Talking Animal|Talking Animals]], or more realism, tend to use this. Alternatively, it might just be more whimsical.
 
Compare [[Fantastic Arousal]], for less... innocent situations.
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
* [[Donald Duck]], as well as many of the McDuck clan as writ by [[Don Rosa]]. Birds deserve to kiss, too!
* In ''[[The Swan Princess]],'' Lt. [[Species Surname|Puffin]] manages to give a kiss to the back of Odette's hand. The tip of his beak kind of... folds back.
* ''[[Chicken Run]]'' makes heavy use of the [[Almost Kiss]] because the animators weren't sure how to animate chickens kissing. The kiss at the end is staged so that the beaks are hidden from view.
* ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]'' has actually shown both variants of the trope. Spike fantasizes about kissing Rarity in "A Dog and Pony Show" and is kissed on the cheek twice by Rarity in "Secret of my Excess".
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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* ''[[Catnapped]]!'' has [[Catgirl]] Chuchu impart a quick lick on the cheek to Yasuo [[Smooch of Victory|after]] [[Puppy Love|he saves their world]]. [[Just in Time]], no less.
 
== Comics ==
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[The Lion King]]'' uses the "crossing necks" variant, for both romantic and familial affection.
** The sequel does, at a couple points, have Kovu and Kiara kiss like humans, both on the cheek and on the "lips."
* In ''[[WALL-E]]'', a robotic "kiss" is more like a static electrical shock.
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[[Category:Animal Anthropomorphism Tropes]]
[[Category:Alternate Animal Affection]]
[[Category:Alliterative Trope Titles]]